Gabriel’s star of the show as Wensum move on up in table tennis league

Wednesday, January 30, 2013
3.10 PM

In the Grant Matthewson Norwich and District League, Wensum C moved into mid-table safety in Premier A with two close 6-4 wins over CEYMS B and Gothic A.

Jordan Gabriel starred in both matches taking all his singles for Wensum C, showing how his game has improved over the course of the season.

UEA A also eased clear of the relegation zone with two maximum points wins over Wensum C and the UEA B side. Matt Haynes and Johnny Bispham both gained maximum singles wins in both matches for the students. Rachel Thompson for UEA A also showed excellent form against the UEA B side, taking three singles for her best performance of the season.

Match of the week in Premier B saw Telephones B and Taverham A contest an evenly-fought encounter with Taverham A edging home 6-4.

Wayne Lubbock was the star performer of the night with an unbeaten four games for Taverham with three of these wins being five-setters including a fifth set 12-10 win over Peter Read. Foxwood B were much too strong for their E side and ran out comfortable 8-2 winners with Carl Matthewson and Trevor Cockburn in good form. Panthers took full advantage of a weakened and depleted Gothic C to record a 9-1 hammering.

In Division 1, Newton Flotman drew with CEYMS E 5-5. The match saw a welcome return to form for Mark Beswick who won two singles and a doubles Flotmen.

With Missionaries’ Andy Watson having an off night, it was left to Richard Westgate and Simon Halliday to ensure the team picked up their first points in quite a while, winning two each and combining to secure the doubles and draw the match.

Ross Gray won his three singles for Rosebery Rd. Returners got back to winning ways, with Stuart Purling taking a maximum as they beat Telephones C 6-4. Foxwood F lost to St Faiths Centre 8-2, which puts SFC at the top of the division once more, three points above Wensum F and Returners who are on equal points.

The top four teams in Division Two take the limelight this week. Leaders Gothic D away to Foxwood H justified their position with a 10-0 whitewash of the home club.

Second-placed CEYMS F battled out a hard-fought draw with Fourbees B where the highlight was Vernon George’s marathon five set win over CEYMS F player Will Crater, which lasted 60 minutes of play. Returners B, with games in hand on the top two, failed to take a point away to a rampant Ex Choristers losing 8-2. Ex Choristers put on the pressure right from the start taking the first eight games before Phil Moore and Terry Osborne hit back with the final singles games of the night.

Dynamic Rams moved into fourth position with a clinical defeat of fifth-placed Taverham C 7-3. They rushed into a strong 5-0 lead and Steve Gurton and son Jack made sure of the victory with good singles wins.

In Division Four, Taverham E showed how much they have improved as the season has gone on with an impressive 6-4 victory over the Brocklesby family team, Wensum J. Young Thomas Connolly was the star for Taverham with a maximum in his singles and a doubles win with Jake Graham. The latest Wensum derby saw the K team come out on top with a 7-3 win over the J team. Nathan Downes and Will Mayhew continued their impressive recent form winning both their singles. Finn and Rosanna Brocklesby won a singles each for the J team and Finn and sister Kate won their doubles to salvage a point for the family team.

Wensum K are fast becoming the team to watch in this Division this year and their match against NCC next week is going to be key in deciding where the title lands this season.